Wrestlemania 33 REcreated: Runners-Up & the Honourable Mentions

So we are days away from the “Showcase of the Immortals”. This is something that as wrestling fans we wait for yearly. It not only concludes our year (or “season” if you will) but within 24 hours it sets the tone and direction of storylines for the next year. Over the past few posts I have chosen a handful of matches that I tweaked in order to properly conclude open stories but also give us a new direction for the participants. I know there are some matches I have missed. Those matches will be addressed with this post and hopefully I will show you the reader a direction for each wrestler involved. As well as making mention to a few matches I believe we’re missed opportunities.1. Andre the Giant Battle Royal

This match has now become a staple on the card. As of yet we have not seen this match or its winners getting the hype they deserve. So for this year I believe we should have seen a series of stories intertwined within the match. Examples of this would be the current battles between Sami Zayn vs Samoa Joe or even Dolph Ziggler vs Apollo Crews. That way we become invested in this match. As for a winner I would like to see one of the following 3 men win it; Sami Zayn, Braun Stroman or Samoa Joe. Instantly the winner whomever that will be should become a major player on his brand. If they are going to continue this match yearly WWE should invest in it more. We are entering its fourth instalment and it’s already a pre-show match no one is excited for. 2. Smackdown Tag Team Championship Match

As I spoke of in my article Wrestlemania 33 Recreated: RAW Tag Title Match the current Tag Team scene of both brands is lacklustre. I would say this is more the case with Smackdown over RAW. American Alpha is a team that has promise and booked right could be a marquee team caring the future of Tag Team Wrestling. So at Elimination Chamber they [American Alpha] defeated every team in a Tag Team Turmoil Match. This solidified them as the top team and clearing the road for a new challenger. That’s where the call up of The Revival from NXT comes in. These are two teams that not only have history but within that history they stole the show (in my opinion) at last years NXT Takeover: Dallas during Wrestlemania Weekend. The booking for this could last months or even be repeated throughout the year. You may even see a triple feud with these teams and The Usos that could be compared to the feud featuring The Hardys, Edge & Christian and The Dudleys during the Attitude Era. Obviously this feud would be more on the technical side. 3. The Intercontinental Championship Match

This match needs very little tweaking as I believe they did an amazing job at the beginning. Once we were past that I felt they dropped the ball. After Baron Corbin made the case of Dean Ambrose taking away every chance of success he had there should have been more substance. I want to see it get really personal. This would also be a perfect chance for Ambrose to reinvent himself as a true lunatic. The more Corbin pushes Ambrose the closer he gets to snapping and then finally have him get very intense during their match. It just seems since loosing the WWE Title Ambrose has resorted to being more of a comedy act than a lunatic. Corbin is the perfect opponent to push Ambrose. Have Ambrose go over at Wrestlemania but Corbin finish the feud on top with the belt at the next PPV.4. United States Championship Match

Now for any readers out there that have read my post Wrestlemania 33 REcreated: Championships & Legacies you know that I had Sami Zayn win the United States Title at Fastlane with an assist by Kevin Owens in away that had Zayn completely unaware of the assist. The following night on RAW Zayn would come out and call out Mick Foley. He would give a speech about earning his spot in the WWE and wanting to earn his first title win and in conclusion relinquishing the title. Foley would say he understands and would give Sami a chance to win that title fair and square. Stephanie comes out and says Foley doesn’t make this decision because she has already made the decision that there will be an 8-Man tournament culminating at Wrestlemania. This would lead into Sami Zayn facing competition like Mark Henry as well as The Big Show and finding a way to win. On the other side of the bracket Samoa Joe would be demolishing Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel. This would lead to Samoa Joe vs Sami Zayn for the United States Title. As for the finish it should be booked to have Sami Zayn fighting with everything he has but at the end Stephanie finds a way to screw him over having Samoa Joe still winning in a big way. This gives Samoa Joe his first belt and at the next PPV Rollins can cost Joe the title giving Zayn the title and setting up a program with Rollins and Samoa Joe.

5. Smackdown Women’s Championship Match

This is the perfect opportunity to push the envelope with the Women’s Revolution. Every year Wrestlemania features a multi-person ladder match and I think this would be a perfect year to leave this one to the women. With RAW’s Women Division slightly overshadowing the Smackdown women this would give them their own spotlight on the grandest stage. This also is such a healthy mix of styles that it gives the opportunity for some amazing spots and a very memorable Wrestlemania moment. With six superstars announced already it wouldn’t be difficult to round up to 8 with the edition of Tamina Snuka and Emma. I would have Alexa Bliss retain with some sort of double cross over Mickie James. I think a program with a veteran like James would truly elevate Bliss further. 6. HHH vs Seth Rollins

I have nothing bad to say about this match or the booking. Reason for this was the unforeseen injury to Rollins. Hypothetically Rollins vs Samoa Joe would have been at Fastlane. If this was the case I would have had a DQ finish with Samoa Joe and HHH brutalizing Rollins. HHH could then make the case on RAW that he has officially ridded the WWE of their “Rollins problem”. Rollins would then come out with a Sledge Hammer taking out Samoa Joe and HHH. He would make a comment how HHH would have to put him on a stretcher permanently to get rid of him setting up for their match at Wrestlemania as a Stretcher Match. Just like their match at Wrestlemania now there would be plenty of violent spots with Rollins ultimately going over strong but finishing with Samoa Joe getting involved.7. The Undertaker vs Roman Reigns

This is a match that I honestly think has the most possibility. I just feel that it had the possibility of appearing more organic but was rushed. At Fastlane WWE threw away allot of the “monster” build of Stroman with no benefit. The ending could have came with Stroman being dropped by multiple Superman Punches and Spears and right before the pin a gong sounds Reigns is distracted and leads to Stroman taking advantage and finishing Reigns. The next night have Reigns call out the Undertaker and then build it from their. Show The Undertaker clearing getting to Roman Reigns and continue having Hall of Famers warning Reigns. At Wrestlemania have Stroman come out after both men have thrown everything at each other and decimate both men. Because it ends in this way it would lead to Reigns taking the WWE Universal Title and have his rematch with Undertaker at Wrestlemania 34 Title vs Career. It would be “Best For Business” if the WWE Universe was made aware of the chance of The Undertaker ending his career at next year’s Wrestlemania. Think about it; James Ellsworth vs Bo Dallas in an Iron Man Match could be your co-main event and you would still sell out if there was a possibility of The Undertaker wrestling his last match on that card.
I want to end this post by wishing all of you a Merry Wrestlemania and a Happy RAW the night after!